Select Local Merchants

The canine caretakers at Lucky Dog Daycare & Resort of South Tampa act as dog-sitting concierges during a pup's private or social boarding. During private stays, shy, aggressive, or hypoallergenic pets pair with a kennel counselor for individual playtime, four to six walks a day, and free use of the outdoor romping grounds. Pets can carouse with packs of friendly canines during a social stay, frolicking with like-sized pals in the grassy play area, relaxing in the expansive Astroturf sunning spots, or swan-diving into the heat-beating water park complete with pools and mist sprayers. The air-conditioned interior offers a weather-friendly alternative to the outdoors, with a team of dog enthusiasts constantly supervising the pet playtime. Owners can virtually check-in with best friends over the live feed that streams across the Internet from 16 cameras on constant alert. Lucky Dog’s boarding aficionados hire sheep barbershop quartets to softly bleat lullabies, ensuring all pups snooze comfortably, either in a single room for the private stay or in a softly snoring dog pile.

Since 1988, the staffers at Pet Supplies Plus have welcomed millions of furry critters of every stripe—from llamas and monkeys to potbellied pigs—into their animal-friendly stores in Pinellas Park and Clearwater. They design their shop so that both pets and their owners can easily navigate the inventory of more than 10,000 items. Wide aisles give leashed pups enough room to roam, colorful signage keeps shoppers moving in the right direction, and low shelves allow dogs to sniff out their preferred brand of rawhide chew. A self-serve dog wash enables guests to scrub their canine companions' coats to a youthful, puppy-like shine, whereas grooming services enlist professionals to tackle tougher jobs, such as brushing out matted fur or convincing dalmatians to stop mixing white and black after Labor Day.

With a transportable arsenal of professional grooming equipment, HydroDog’s mobile pet salons roam the Tampa Bay area, cleansing pets during visits to homes, offices, parks, and events. Upon arrival, its signature blue vehicles open into a cleansing tub and drying station designed to accommodate nearly any size of dog. The expert pet aestheticians perform baths, haircuts, ear cleanings, nail trimmings, gland expressions, and de-shedding services, and offer flea-and-tick treatments to prevent pests from staking canine claims. All of HydroDog’s units are climate-controlled, providing cool respite from hot summer days and vivid dreams of chasing rabbits through active volcanoes.

A private, women-only gym, American Woman Fitness Center encompasses workout warriors with strength and conditioning equipment. There’s also fun fitness technology such as the Jump-Q, a semicircle of steps where members can compete against their own time or each other. For boxing and kickboxing, there’s the score-keeping 3 Kick that lights up areas to be kicked and punched. Rounding out the trio of workout toys is Heavy Ball, which challenges exercisers to maneuver and move medicine balls into a series of lit-up slots while being timed. American Woman Fitness also takes surveys from their members to customize fitness classes to their desires.

Most dogs resist going to the groomers, so the staff at The Wizard of Paws treats pups with gentle hands to keep them calm. A bath with conditioner purges fur of debris and dirt before the groomers brush out pets' coats to reduce shedding and get them gleaming without applying hair gel. To put the finishing touches on fresh and clean furry companions, the certified and insured groomers also trim nails and brush teeth.

Crowned with a bright pink pompadour and sporting stenciled spots on its legs, another "creative grooming” client emerges from Beach Groomers Pet Salon & Boutique. Some of these sessions are inspired by trends in Japan, and they’re not for the meek—they give dogs and cats a look as bold as football jerseys with comic sans font. The groomings are a special endeavor for owner Danielle Moyse, a dog owner herself whose core competency is traditional grooming services. Danielle can perform a standard bath and trim hair and nails, and she can add a spritz of cologne and tie a jaunty bandana around her canine or feline client’s neck. She and her staff also pamper pets with spa treatments, such as facials that lift dirt and cupcake sprinkles embedded around mouths and sugar scrubs that exfoliate.